Why Are Food Allergies On The Rise Worldwide?

Allergy rates for certain foods are increasing around the world. So, why have our bodies become so allergic, unlike the older generations who ‘eat what they find’?

Even if you are not, you must have had a friend around you who is allergic to something. There are individuals who are allergic to milk, eggs, many nuts and even wheat.. Moreover, these are among the most common allergen foods.

One of the most striking issues about allergies is the number of people with allergies and The ever-increasing variety of foods that cause allergies.

Allergy rate is constantly increasing both in our country and in the world.

The proportion of people with allergies to the population worldwide has been approx. There are studies showing that it has doubled in 50 years; Moreover, the number of people with allergies is thought to be 3-4 times the known number.

The situation is not different in Turkey. President of the Turkish National Allergy and Clinical Immunology Association, Prof. Dr. Bulent Sekerel, He says that the incidence of allergies in Turkey has doubled in the last 10 years.

Many different studies are carried out on the subject and why we have more allergies than before we are trying to understand. However, it is not possible to point to a single reason. Different studies reveal different causes of allergies.

Let’s briefly understand allergy: what is it, why does it happen?

A patient who has undergone an allergy test

Allergy is actually a ‘misunderstanding’ of our immune system. Let’s say you have a milk allergy. When milk enters your body, your immune system treats milk as a harmful invader. and that’s how it defines it.

Then, each time this ‘invader’ enters the body, the immune system quickly recognizes it and basically what we can call ‘extraction effort’ It causes some reactions. However, in some cases, anaphylaxis, known as allergic shock, can be experienced alongside these reactions.

During anaphylaxis, the immune system suddenly releases chemicals, causing a series of changes in the body. The blood pressure drops, the airways narrow, and at the same time, reactions such as swelling and redness occur on the skin. Breathing becomes difficult, oxygen circulation in the body becomes difficult. This situation, which is quite dangerous, can result in death.

More common in people who consume an allergenic food redness of the skin, swelling, shortness of breath, sneezing, effects such as runny nose, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bloating in the stomach, indigestion, watery eyes, eczema on the skin, hives, asthma.

These effects can be shaped according to the way the allergen enters the body. While food allergies cause more intense stomach and intestinal problems Allergies such as pollen allergy are more effective in the nose, eyes and throat.

What are we most allergic to?

The most common food allergies worldwide are as follows;

  • Cow milk
  • Egg
  • The fish
  • Peanut
  • Nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, etc.)
  • shellfish
  • Soy
  • Wheat
  • Legumes
  • Sesame

We’ve finally come to our main question: why is allergy on the rise?

Of course, the researchers, who determined the continuous increase with the data at hand, asked this question and sought answers abundantly. Unfortunately “This is the reason 100%” There is no single answer we can say.

However, the results obtained from the studies allow us to reach some general information. Graham Rook, professor of medical microbiology at University College London, believes that food allergy does indeed increased ‘unquestionably’; He says one of the reasons is our new lifestyle. urban modern manhave more allergies…

Namely, according to Rook, our microbiota is changing as people who are not intertwined with nature as before. This too our body can meet fewer microorganisms, It means that he does not recognize many microorganisms that he can recognize and develop reflexes even in nature.

This situation regarding the connection between microbiota and allergy is also supported by some data. for example Allergy in babies born by cesarean section It is more common in babies born by normal delivery. It is thought that this situation may be due to the fact that the baby has never met some beneficial bacteria that he will take into his body while leaving the birth canal due to cesarean section.

Likewise, a link between the amount of antibiotic use and the incidence of allergies points to the same situation. More Allergy rates are higher in children who use antibiotics coming out. The use of antibiotics destroys the beneficial bacteria by damaging the bacterial flora in the intestines. It is often said that unconscious antibiotics should not be used for such reasons.

Another reason is the emphasis on vitamin D. Spending less and less time outdoors and Beginning to take less vitamin D There is some research supporting the view that the immune system of modern humans may have been affected and become more receptive to allergens.

However, there is no consensus on a single point. Because some studies show that the rate of vitamin D is higher after birth. It also shows that allergy rates in infants are increasing. Experts say that too little or too much vitamin D may be linked to allergies.

Scientists draw attention to the need for a better understanding of allergies, which can even have fatal consequences. It is emphasized that research into the causes will continue.


source site-35